Sarah J. Zimmerman

About Sarah J. Zimmerman

Experienced Family Law Attorney in Washington, D.C.

Although divorce can be one of life's most difficult experiences, Sarah Zimmerman works with clients to achieve the best possible outcome while attempting to minimize the financial and emotional costs of divorce. Sarah's approach is characterized by the development of relationships, the cultivation of trust, and the focus on solutions.

Sarah is an expert at guiding clients through difficult financial, emotional, and custody issues. Her client-centered approach and empathic, calming presence provide much-needed support to divorcing individuals during this difficult time in their lives. Sarah develops close working relationships with her clients and is committed to the hard work of problem-solving with both sides, believing that a cooperative approach usually results in a quicker and better resolution of her clients' matters.

Sarah employs all forms of alternative dispute resolution, including Collaborative Law and mediation, to help her clients resolve their disputes outside of court. As a result, the vast majority of Sarah's cases settle without going to trial. If Collaborative Law or mediation are not appropriate for a client or if the case cannot be settled out of court, Sarah is tenacious in pursuing her client's goals, including litigation when necessary. Sarah, a skilled negotiator, advocate, and litigator, ensures that her client's specific needs and interests are addressed, regardless of the divorce process chosen.

Sarah is also a sought-after private and court-appointed mediator for individual clients and family law attorneys. Sarah is well-known for her ability to use mediation to resolve difficult and seemingly intractable custody and financial issues.

Sarah considers a good and long-lasting divorce settlement to be a "package." She is skilled at assisting clients in focusing on their priorities and making informed decisions about what they and their families will require in the long run, thanks to her keen analytical skills. Furthermore, as a mother of three children, Sarah understands the importance of prioritizing and protecting children's best interests, particularly by minimizing conflict. In every case, Sarah strives to achieve a fair and long-term outcome that will assist clients in avoiding future conflicts and, most importantly, moving forward and beginning this new stage in their lives.

Sarah received her Juris Doctor with Honors from George Washington University in 1996 and has been named by Washingtonian Magazine as one of the area's "Top Domestic Relations Lawyers." She has also been recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Bethesda Magazine. Sarah worked as a law clerk for the Honorable James P. Salmon of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals after graduating from law school. Sarah worked at Crowell & Moring for five years in the fields of employment law and general litigation before joining Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP in 2002. She was also involved in pro bono domestic violence and custody matters in the District of Columbia Superior Court.

Sarah is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Practitioners, the DC Academy of Collaborative Professionals, and the Women's Bar Associations of DC and Montgomery County, Maryland.